Although there have been many reports about the importance of the spleen's role in hepatic fibrogenesis, the exact mechanism is still uncertain. The author designed this study to evaluate splenic function on hepatic fibrogenesis. The degree of hepatic fibrosis and the population of splenocyte subsets were studied in the experimental animal model with fibrosis produced by injecting normal swine serum intra-peritoneally into Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals were divided into three groups; group A was subjected to injection of swine serum only, group B swine serum and complete Freund's adjuvant and group C swine serum and cyclosporin A. The experimental hepatic fibrogenesis by swine serum was augumented by coinjection with the adjuvant and inhibited by cyclosporin A. The study of the splenocyte subset revealed increased percentages of spienic B cell and CD4+ cell and a decreased percentage of CD8+ cell, and these changes of splenocyte subset were also augumented by the adjuvant and inhibited by cyclosporin A. The percent of monocytes was not significantly altered, although a tendancy of early decrease by the adjuvant was noted.
Rats ; Animals

BACKGROUND: This study aims to obtain basic data regarding the proper maintenance and potential role of humidifiers in the development of nosocomial pneumonia. We investigated into a spectrum of bacteria that grew after disinfection in humidifiers that were used in intensive care units (ICUs). The bacteria were isolated at different time points after disinfection. METHODS: We randomly selected 6 humidifiers that were used in an ICU and conducted a series of bacterial culture studies at 24 hr, 48 hr, 72 hr and 168 hr after disinfecting the six humidifiers. The fluid from the humidifider was cultured in the same manner as the dialysate. RESULTS: No bacteria were isolated in most of the 6 humidifiers 24 hr after the disinfection of the instruments. Gram-negative bacilli such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Burkholderia cepacia, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were cultured at 48 hr after disinfection. CONCLUSION: Regular and thorough disinfection of humidifiers is necessary to prevent possible spread of infection via humidifiers in the ICU.
Acinetobacter baumannii ; Bacteria ; Burkholderia cepacia ; Disinfection ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Pneumonia ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To analyse complications and to review usefulness of large needle(18G) in percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage(PTBD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 46 patients underwent PTBD in 52 occassions using large needle. 44 of 46 patients had either definite or suspicious malignant biliary obstruction, and most patients were poor in general dondition. Complications were classified as acute type if developed within 30 days and as delayed type if developed after 30 days. Acute type was subdivided into severe and mild forms. RESULTS: Severe forms of complications were death(5.8%), septicemia(3.8%), and bile peritonitis(1.9%). There were not different from the rate of complication in PTBD using fine needle but the procedure was much more simple. CONCLUSION: We PTBD using large neddie is a simple and safe procedure for prompt bile decompression.
Bile ; Decompression ; Drainage* ; Humans ; Needles*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the level of understanding of hospice palliative care (HPC) and shared decision making (SDM) among middle-aged adults. METHODS: Data were collected from 90 middle-aged adults living in D city using a self-reported questionnaire. The SPSS program was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Among the participants, 76.7% were aware of the HPC while 82.2% of the participants were not aware of SDM. Among all, 85.6% responded positively for needs of HPC, and 77.8% of participants for SDM. Participants with Christian faith (Protestants and Catholics), high income level and present illness were better aware of HPC than others. The most needed services were nursing care and treatment along with systematic counseling and explanation provided by the medical staff. There was also a significant relationship between the HPC factors, gender, income, current health status and current illness status. Participants with high income level were well aware of SDM. Stronger SDM needs were observed among participants with professional jobs or current illness. CONCLUSION: For continued discussion on HPC and SDM, it is necessary to implement and promote various education programs for medical staff and the public.
Adult* ; Counseling ; Decision Making* ; Education ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Hospice Care ; Hospices* ; Humans ; Medical Staff ; Middle Aged ; Nursing Care ; Palliative Care*

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To assess the incidence and causes of pseudohydronephrosis in the abdominal two-phase (arterial and portal) spiral CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 115 renal pelvises of 62 patients (hepatocellular carcinoma in 36, gastric carcinoma in 10 and others in 16 patients) whose entire renal pelvises were imaged in both phases of abdominal spiral CT. Arterial and portal phase scans were obtained 30 and 65-70 seconds after the injection of 100 mL of non-ionic contrast media (370mg I/mL) at a rate of 2.5 mL/sec, respectively. The renal pelvis was considered to be dilated when the shortest diameter of renal pelvis exceeded 1cm as seen on CT. In each patient, a plain film was obtained 5-10 minutes after the injection of contrast media for CT to confirm the hydronephrosis. RESULTS: Seven renal pelvises were dilated on spiral CT. All of them were pseudohydronephrosis with prominent renal pelvis and two of them were extrarenal pelvises. In 115 renal pelvises, there was one case of true hydronephrosis due to a ureteral stone not suspected clinically. CONCLUSION: A 6% incidence of pseudohydronephrosis due to prominent renal pelvis should be considered in interpreting the abdominal two-phase spiral CT.
Abdomen* ; Contrast Media ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Incidence ; Kidney Pelvis ; Pelvis ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Ureter

No abstract available.
Endometriosis* ; Female

No abstract available.
Blood Group Incompatibility* ; Bromelains*

Human membranous nephropathy (MN) is morphologically characterized by subepithelial immune complex deposits and progressive thickening of glomerular basement membranes (GBM). Studies have suggested that the enhanced secretion of classical and novel type IV collagen chains in MN contributes to spike formation and the novel type IV collagen chain is particularly related to thickening of GBM. It is unclear whether the increased accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in GBM is due to the increased mRNA expression for type IV collagen in glomerular visceral epithelial cells (GECs). To answer this question, we analyzed seven renal biopsies of patients with idiopathic MN using in situ hybridization. In MN, the number of GECs expressing mRNA for alpha1(IV) collagen was 2.82+/-1.80/glomerular cross section (gcs), and the number expressing mRNA for alpha4(IV) collagen was 8.42+/-2.85/gcs. The number of GECs expressing mRNA for alpha4(IV) collagen was significantly larger than that of alpha1(IV) collagen mRNA. The expression of mRNA for these ECM proteins in normal controls was negligible. These results suggest that subepithelial immune complexes stimulate the gene expression of alpha1(IV) collagen and alpha4(IV) collagen in glomerular GECs which, in turn, increase the secretion of ECM proteins and contribute to the thickening of GBM in MN.
Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Biopsy ; Collagen ; Collagen Type IV* ; Extracellular Matrix ; Gene Expression ; Glomerular Basement Membrane ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous* ; Humans* ; In Situ Hybridization ; Podocytes ; RNA, Messenger*